Transgender Canadians moved one step closer to full legal protection on February 10, when the House of Commons passed a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression.

The measure is a so-called 'private member's bill,' meaning it was put forward by an individual - in this case MP Bill Siskay of the New Democratic Party - rather than by the government party.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy in which the party that commands a majority in the House of Commons forms the government and nominates the prime minister.

While the governing Conservative Party largely opposed the law, a nearly unanimous Yes vote from the opposition parties was enough to pass the measure by a margin of eight votes.

Six members of the government party, including four cabinet ministers, joined the opposition to pass the bill. One other minister abstained.

The final vote was 143 for the measure and 135 against.

'It's a great day,' said the bill's author, NDP MP Bill Siksay. 'It's been in the works for six years, and it's great to see people from all parties supporting the bill. This is not a partisan issue, it's a human rights issue.'

Currently the Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, and conviction for which a pardon has been issued.

It also adds 'gender identity' and 'gender expression' to sections of Canada's Criminal Code prohibiting genocide and advocating genocide.

The February 10 vote was the bill's third and final reading in the House of Commons. Its first reading was in May of 2009.

The bill now goes to the Canada's Senate, which is also controlled by the Conservative Party. Siksay must find a senator willing to sponsor his bill in the upper house, but he has not yet found a volunteer.

Seats in Canada's Senate are assigned on a regional basis, and its members are appointed by the governor general - Queen Elizabeth's representative in Canada - rather than being elected like members of the House of Commons.

The measure got strong support from the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), a union organization representing 54 Ontario unions and over one million members.

'This bill is about extending human rights to some of the most vulnerable among us,' said OFL President Sid Ryan. 'Denying the rights of some has never protected our society and has always undermined our integrity. It is past time that we extend human rights and criminal code protections to Trans-identified people.'

'How many assaults, how many suicides will be enough to make us take action? One is too many,' Ryan added. 'It is a national shame that Trans-identified people have been allowed to experience discrimination and harassment for this long.'

Opponents of the bill were a predictable combination of conservative newspapers and Christian-right groups.

'We find the whole thing appalling,' said Jim Hughes, national president of Campaign Life Coalition. 'We find the lack of opposition from church leaders especially was deafening. The people are ignorant of it and what is going to happen next.'

'Hopefully the Senate votes it down or Parliament dissolves before it is signed into law,' he added.

While senators may reject a bill passed by the House of Commons, they rarely do.

In December, the Canadian Department of National Defense issued a new Trans-inclusive dress code for its troops. The department has paid for sex reassignment surgery for Canadian military personnel since 1998.

USA Gay News American News American Gay News USA American Gay News United States American Lesbian News USA American Lesbian News United States USA News
Pacific Northwest News in Seattle News in Washington State News